Staff

Aminisha Ferdinand, Arts Coach
Elise Gallinot, Program Director
Sean Glazebrook, Arts Coach
Linda Irwin, Development Director
Echo Olander, Executive Director
Shannel Platenburg, Coordinator

Aminisha Ferdinand
Aminisha returned home to her native New Orleans following a decade of studying, teaching, and performing throughout the United States and abroad. After completing an M.A. in Educational Theatre at NYU, she worked with Invisible Children in Gulu, Uganda, partnering with a classroom teacher to integrate arts and participatory activities into student lessons. In New Orleans, she continues to approach theatre education as an opportunity for young people to achieve success in learning and as an outlet for constructive creative expression.

Elise Gallinot
Elise received her B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Georgia in Athens, her Masters Degree in Arts Administration from the University of New Orleans, and has researched and trained in best practices through national models including the Kennedy Center, Understanding by Design, ArtsConnection, New York and Project Zero, Harvard Graduate School of Education. She received her certification training in Montessori education and spent four years in the classroom before focusing on arts administration. In addition to her work as an artist and educator, she has worked in the non-profit arts sector as Executive Director of the DeKalb Symphony Orchestra, Associate Director of the New Orleans Film Festival, and as Program Coordinator of KID smART.

Sean Glazebrook
Sean has worked with students from a range of grade and experience levels at McDonogh City Park Academy, NOCCA / Riverfront and The Porch. As a teacher, he focuses on creating a collaborative environment to foster creativity and encourage teamwork. He holds a BFA in Theatre and History from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and certification in Shakespearean Performance from the Royal Academy of Dramamtic Art. Mr. Glazebrook is also an actor. He is a founding member of The NOLA Project, a theatre company focused on producing original work and engaging new audiences.

Linda B. Irwin
Linda has an extensive background in not-for-profit management with particular emphasis on strategic planning and mission-driven fundraising and organizational development. She was Executive Director of Youth Alternatives, Inc., New Orleans, for ten years and of the Center for the Physically Limited in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for twelve years.

Echo Olander
With a background of 25+ years in arts administration with an educational focus, Echo manages the day-to-day logistics and directs the vision and the mission of KID smART. Echo has a BA in English from Newcomb College. For ten years, Echo consulted with the Mississippi Arts Commission on the professional development component of the Whole Schools Initiative; helping schools move towards arts integrated curriculum and instruction. Echo was recently named to the Louisiana team for the NEA Education Leadership Institute and coordinated the review of Louisiana Curriculum guides for the Louisiana Department of Education and the Louisiana Division of the Arts. Previous employers include the New York State Council on the Arts and the Arts Council of New Orleans.

Shannel Platenburg
Shannel has over fifteen years of experience in administrative support services, including accounting, human resources, data management and information technology support. She has professional experience in both non-profit and for-profit businesses.